McKinnon has been fighting back against the city’s code enforcement division after it threatened him with possible jail time and a fine of up to $1,000 for not using Waste Management.

City Attorney Karl Hall wrote:

“The city has entered into the franchise agreement to provide such exclusive solid waste (including recyclable material) collection and disposal service through Waste Management. The … agreement was entered into through (Reno Municipal Code) Chapter 5.90, and it mandates that no entity other than Waste Management may provide the service of collection and transportation (also referred to as “hauling”) of solid waste (including recyclable material).”

Hall’s position was affirmed by the hearing officer who handled McKinnon’s appeal.

But the decision came down before the mayor and members of the city council spoke against such exclusivity at last week’s council meeting.

“We went a long ways — had many, many meetings — to make sure that the people who were hauling away recyclables could stay in business the entire time,” said former Councilman Dave Aiazzi. “Waste Management agreed to that; the recyclers agreed to that. No one else could get into the business, but no one else could be forced out. This was not designed to take any business out of business, by any means.”

“(Green Solutions Recycling) operates illegally,” he said. “(The company) is providing solid waste collection, hauling, and transportation services within the City of Reno, but it does not have a City of Reno business license to conduct business.

“It is unfortunate that (Green Solutions) is using its customers to illegally undercut and interfere with the franchise,” Hall added.

These statements solidify the city’s legal position about using haulers other than Waste Management: Don’t — unless you want to be possibly fined or thrown in jail.

McKinnon said that he is considering his options at this point. Other businesses using Green Solutions have been similarly threatened by the city with jail time and fines.

Bob Conrad is co-founder of ThisisReno. He manages ThisisReno and Conrad Communications, LLC, his marketing communications consulting company. He also works part time for the University of Nevada, Reno.